Things you should know before studying in U.S include application fee and financial information. Many students are not aware that they have to pay an application fee to apply to schools, colleges, and universities in the USA. While this might not be a normal practice in the other countries, this is standard in the United States. Application fees can range in price depending on the institution. Some institutions charge as much as $1o0 while other institutions charge as little as $30.
These institutions waive the application fee under certain financial circumstances. If you are needing financial assistance to submit your application, contact your prospective institution’s admissions office. The application fee is essential, as you will not be able to submit your application until the fee has been paid or waived.
Another things you should know before studying in U.S in addition to the application fee and financial information, applicant are required to show proof of financial eligibility. Most institutions will require a copy of your bank statement but some schools may allow other documents to show financial eligibility. If you are concerned about providing proof of financial eligibility, contact your prospective institution’s admissions office. Let read more things you should know before studying in U.S below;
Things You Should Know Before Studying in U.S
Before you think of studying in the U.S, it is important you get your facts on how much your degree, program, or class will cost you.
1. Find the average total cost
Find the average total cost of U.S. colleges and universities at College Scorecard. You can search for schools by school name, program or degree, location, or school size. You’ll find a wealth of useful information to help you compare schools and figure out the best investment for you. On the institution official website, look for the following information by school:
- Total average costs
- Graduation rates
- Average salaries of students 10 years after enrolling
- Typical debt amounts for students
- Typical monthly debt payment of students
- And much more!
Once you know the average cost of your class, program, or school, make sure you understand what’s included and what might be additional expenses. See this list of typical institution expenses beyond tuition and fees.
- Books and other supplies: Ask an advisor or instructor at your institution or program to estimate how much you will need to spend on books and materials for each class you plan to take.
- Transportation: Don’t forget to include any additional expenses that you will need to get to and from your class or training program, such as gas, bus fare or parking fees.
- Room and board (if living at the institution or relocating): If you’re planning to live on campus, you should be able to find a good estimate of these expenses on the institution website. If you’re planning to relocate, you may want to compare living costs in your current and new location; Google “cost of living calculator” to find a tool that can provide this comparison.
- Your time: The time you spend in class, in unpaid training, or studying is also an education cost especially if you’re already working and taking time off to upgrade your skills or get a degree. A basic rule of thumb is that you should expect to spend approximately two to three hours studying for each hour of time in class. Add to that any travel time to and from school. Then use your typical hourly wage to estimate the cost of your learning time.
2. Find out admission requirements
There are many programs in the USA and each have their own requirements for admission. Many schools that offer undergraduate degrees will require students to submit SAT or ACT test scores prior to submitting their application. In addition to undergraduate programs, postgraduate programs may require the GMAT, GRE or MCAT test depending on the program to which you are applying. As an international student, generally you will have to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score for consideration to an undergraduate or postgraduate program.
Although most schools require a TOEFL or IELTS score, there are some institutions that do not require them. A list of those schools can be found here.
In addition, schools will require your previous academic transcripts. These transcripts should be from any previous accredited learning institution, such as a high school, community college, or a university. Obtaining academic transcripts can be a time consuming process, therefore, make sure to plan ahead.
Planning in advance will make the process of applying to institutions in the USA easier. Remember to have money for each application you submit, a valid passport, and test scores relevant to your program, prior to submitting your application. Applying to study in the USA can be an overwhelming process but if you remember these key elements needed to apply you’ll experience an easy and simple application process.
